Conclusion
The positive interaction between the administration, the contractor, the subconstractors and the design engineers was the principle factor in making this innovative footbridge a reality.
The range of application of advanced fibre-composite materials is very wide, particularly when minimum maintenance, lightness, transportation facilities, no magnetic interaction or quick erection times are required. The initial cost due to material supply and design is higher when compared with traditional steel-based solutions, however, considerable savings are made in construction and maintenance.
The development and future of advanced composite materials for architectural and civil engineering structural applications will depend basically on the development of new structural forms and element-joining techniques. Structural codes could help to spread the use of full advanced composite plastic structures but regulations of these standard documents could also have a negative effect on the creativity of structural engineers.
Engineers possess a magnificent potential knowledge regarding the behaviour of materials and structures but aesthetics should also be taken into account as well as structural performance and economy. All this could easily be done by simply making an extra effort during the conceptual design stage. This footbridge demonstrates that advanced composite materials can be easily introduced into most types of structural forms thus taking advantage of their outstanding mechanical and chemical properties.
Towards Advanced Composite Material Footbridges
Dr. Juan A. Sobrino and Dolores G. Pulido, Civil Eng.
Pedelta, Barcelona, Spain
Structural Engineering International 2/2002
(IABSE)
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